Deadline for Help with Your Heating Bills

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) [formerly SRS] is taking applications for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

DEADLINE TO APPLY: March 29

This program helps low income households pay winter heating bills. This includes the costs for gas, electricity, propane, and/or firewood for your home (whether you own the house or rent from a landlord). If money becomes available, a supplemental benefit is paid in the summer to assist with cooling bills (but only for those who applied by March 29 for heating assistance).

WHO QUALIFIES

Low income households that include: • someone who has disabilities • someone who is elderly • families with children (under age 18)

In addition;  You must be living at the address.  You must be responsible for the heating costs whether paid to your landlord, a utility company, or a fuel vendor. (e.g., your name or your landlord’s name is on the bill),  You have make recent payments for the purchase of your heating or cooling costs (see below for details).  The combined gross income of all persons living at the address may not exceed 130% of the federal poverty level. [Gross income is the amount before taxes and other deductions.]  At least one person in the home is a US Citizen or "qualified alien".

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

The amount of this benefits depends on: household income, the number of people living in the house, the type of dwelling, and the type of heating fuel and utility rates.

You also must show that you having been making payments on the purchase of heating fuels for two of the last three months. • Payments must total at least $80 or the total balance due, whichever was less. • You can combine payments on different fuels for your home (e.g., gas, electricity, propane, firewood).

HOW TO APPLY (You must apply between January 22 and March 29, 2013.)

People who qualified for assistance last year have already received their applications. Others can: